The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-11
STATE BALL IN BERLIN.
Scenes ut the Palace Graphic De.
scr!psicn of the Aged Empress.

oScECS Ut TIE P2lace--A Graphic De-
scr!ption of the Aged Empress.
Cor. Nsw Yors Ma,l aud Express.
BERLIN, May 2i.--The Kaiser gives four
grand receptions overy winter. The first of
the series is, more properly speaking, state
concert, while the last, which usually takes
place in the month of April or May, just be-
fore the Emperor leaves Berlin for the sum-
mer, is enliycned by selections from the
opera and the ballet, of which latter the old
monarch is very fond. The invitation cards,
which are delivered by mounted orderlies,
bear the following inscription:
BY order of their Imperial NIajesties, the grand
master of the court has the honor to Invite
Nj to ball and supper on the - instant, at
$50 O'Clock, at the royal palace.
CouNr PEapoSoHxR.
The card is embossed with an imperial
crown and is eInbellished with an engraving
of their Majesties' arms, and q picture of the
palace encircled by wreath of laurel and
ivy leaves. Two additional cards are con-
tanned in the envelope. The first one of
these states that the ball will take pldce in
the White Hall Of the castle, and demands
that ladies should be in full ball dress, the
civilians in evening dress and the officers in
court uniform. 1t adds that the princes who
are invited must arrive by O'clock and as
semble in the hall of the Knights of the
Black Eagle; that the generals and high Off
Gals must reach the palace by quarter to
nine, and assemble in the Chapter Hall; that
the diplomatic corps are to congregate in
the White Hall, and that the ordinary
guests must arrive before $50 .. m. and
take up their places in the great Picture
Gallery. The second of the two cards ar
ranges for access to the supper rooms at
stated hours and according to rank
At o'clock the celebrated boulevard
"Unter den Linden" commences to be
thronged with guests on their way to the
palace The road is kept open for them by
mounted constables. Most of the army and
navy officers invited are on foot, being of an
economical disposition, and their snow-white
dress trowsers are strapped down tight over
their 1rreproachably vanished boots. The
crowd is never tired of gazing open nouthed
at the eighteenth century state carriages in
which the royalties are conveyed to the cas-
tie. The latter is not the palace where their
majesties reside which is far too small for
any court entertainments. The state balls
and concerts always take place in what is
known as the Royal Castle, an immense four
storied building at one end of the ''Unter
den Linden" boulevard, and containing
some 900 rooms. The picture gallery, where
the ordinary guests assemble, and through
which the diplomatic corps have to pass to
reach their places in the White Hall, con-
tains some very fine paintings. One of
these, by the court painter Anton Won Wer-
ner, represents the scene of the proclama-
ton of the empire in the Chateau of Yer
sailles in 1871. Another, by the well-known
painter, Munzel, pictures the coronation of
the Kaiser as King of Prussia at Konigs-
berg, in 1862 Next to this hangs life
sized portrait of the Prince of Wales in his
Prussian hussar uniform. The painting by
David of Napoleon l. Crossing the Alps
which used to hang there until two years
ago, has now disappeared
ARRIVAL OF THE GUESTS.
By 9 O'Clock the scene has become very
brilliant. Count Herbert Bismarck in his
light blue dragon uniform; the rector of
the university, in his scarlet and gold en-
broidered robes; the painter Munzel, whose
dwarflike stature scarcely reaches the top of
the jackboots of the gardes du corps, and
the Cabinet Ministers, in their gold en-
broidered uniforms, all attract the attention
of the novice. The chamberlains, with their
gold sticks Of office and their gold key, sewn
onto a bow of blue ribbon at the backof the
waist, look singularly awkward in their
tunics, embroidered with heavy gold
and cream-colored pantaloons The Am
bassador of Austria, Count Sechyeni,
passes through the gallery, magnificent in
his Embroidered costume of Hungarian
magnate and hussar- like busby, with long,
waving heron plume The Russian Am
bassador, Count Schouvaloff, is compare
lively plainly dressed in his uniform of a
general of cavalry, with the national white
astrakan bonnet. The most gorgeous uni
form, as far as gold embroideries are con-
cerned, is that of the Turkish Ambassador,
who passes slowly by, gravely stroking his
beard with a truly Oriental gesture. As
soon as the guests have reached their
allotted places, non-commissioned officers of
the regiment of the gardes du corps station
al
doors. Every one of them six feet two
inches in height, they look magnificent
in their white uniforms, with a
large gold sun emblazoned on their
polished breast-plates, and the Prussian
eagle surmounting their silver-plated he'll
met. Shortly after 8 O'Clock the guests are
ranged in long rows on either sides of their
respective rooms, and the imperial party
makes its appearance The procession is
headed by about a dozen chamberlains,
with their wands Of office. These are fol
lowed by the Grand Chamberlain, Count
Perponcher, who walks alone in solitary
grandeur His appearance, notwithstand-
ing his gorgeous uniform, is almost that of
a caricature with his brown wig, his dyed
and abundantly waxed moustache and
imperial, and his somewhat mincng gait
His salary amounts TO $4,000 per annum
A few PAGES behind him appears the old
Kaiser, with his daughter-in law, the Crown
Princess, ON his arm. The old gentleman
although somewhat bent and worn
looking, still remains grand-looking man.
Every head is bent low as he passes Next
comes the Crown Prince in his favorite
white cuirassier uniform, conducting his
daughter-in-law, Princess William, a big,
fair and fresh specimen of unrefinod leu
tonic womanhood. The Crown Prince, who
is now close upon 81 years of age, has con-
siderably aged during the past two or three
years. His look has lost the bright, merry
twinkle which was formerly its distinguish
ing feature, and his whole aspect bears
traces OF worry, annoyance and anxiety.
His eldest son, Prince William, follows him,
Offering his arm to his pretty married sister,
Princess Charlotte of Sake Meiningen.
The Prince, who is decked out in all
the splendor of the somewhat stagely-
looking uniform of his hussar regiment,
is a. perfect dwarf compared to his
father and grandfather. A great popularity
hunter, he affects an exaggerated vivacity
and graciousness. His manners, notwith-
standing all his efforts to please, give one
thoroughly the impression of insincerity,
and his efforts to pass as wit are remarka-
bic for their coarseness and their vulgarity.
His brother Henry, the sailor prince, who is
but rarely at Berlin, and who conducts his
unmarried sister, Princess Victoria, is far
more popular. Princess Victoria, although